Can small in-person storytelling circles drive big change in the nonprofit world? After her own experience with burnout, Jennifer DeCoste founded FireLoch as a place where her fellow burnt out peers in the nonprofit sector could rest and reconnect with their work. In this episode, Jennifer shares how untold stories catalyzed the creation of FireLoch, what kinds of storytelling feel most authentic to her, and why she’s prioritizing intimacy over scale.

• 00:30 Jennifer DeCoste's Journey and FireLoch's Mission
• 05:27 The Power of Speaking Up
• 06:53 Jennifer’s Burnout and Recovery Journey
• 10:18 FireLoch’s Funding Model - Who Supports Helping the Helpers
• 14:33 Adapting the Narrative for Government Grant Programs vs Philanthropists
• 16:01 Collecting Outcome Stories in an Authentic Trust-Forward Way
• 19:23 Collaboration and Partnership in Atlantic Canada
• 21:15 Small Group In-Person Storytelling: Prioritizing People Over Promotion
• 27:22 Evolving Language of Burnout, Wellness, and Success

Find out more about FireLoch

• Website: fireloch.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/fireloch
• Instagram: instagram.com/fireloch
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/fireloch

About the Atlantic IMPACT podcast

Atlantic IMPACT is a podcast that helps nonprofits across Atlantic Canada use storytelling to drive fundraising and awareness. Each episode features conversations with people working in community, sharing how story supports connection, impact, and long-term growth. Whether you're part of a nonprofit or simply care about your community, this podcast invites you to listen, reflect, and engage.

 Is your organization ready to tell its story? Take the free Storytelling Readiness Quiz at collaborativecause.ca/stories.

The podcast is hosted by Tanya Wall and Michelle Samson, and is produced by Storied Places Media.

“ Storytelling is imperfect and very human. And that's what makes it accessible.” In this episode, Lynn Panting of Business and Arts NL joins us to talk about  storytelling, creativity, and connection. Lynn shares insights into the organization’s new Narrative Marketing Initiative, how to prioritize storytelling when capacity is limited, and the value of starting small and staying consistent.

• 00:30 Introducing Lynn Panting and Business and Arts NL
• 03:44 The Narrative Marketing Initiative
• 09:35 Mentorship Success Stories
• 13:11 Best Formats for Storytelling
• 14:54 How to Get Started With Storytelling
• 18:07 Overcoming Capacity Challenges
• 21:15 The Role of Consistency and Regularity in Storytelling
• 22:00 How Artists Benefit from Sharing Their Story

Find out more about Business and Arts NL

• Website: businessandartsnl.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/businessandartsnl
• Facebook: facebook.com/BusinessandArtsNL
• X: x.com/BizArtsNL
• YouTube:youtube.com/channel/UC3bzv4IcmsrmwrOgOsRrz-g
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/business-and-arts-nl

About the Atlantic IMPACT podcast

Atlantic IMPACT is a podcast that helps nonprofits across Atlantic Canada use storytelling to drive fundraising and awareness. Each episode features conversations with people working in community, sharing how story supports connection, impact, and long-term growth. Whether you're part of a nonprofit or simply care about your community, this podcast invites you to listen, reflect, and engage.

 Is your organization ready to tell its story? Take the free Storytelling Readiness Quiz at collaborativecause.ca/stories.

The podcast is hosted by Tanya Wall and Michelle Samson, and is produced by Storied Places Media.

The same story can be told in many different ways. In this episode, The Gaia Project’s Strategic Partnerships Manager, Travis Daley, shares how this environmental and climate education organization adapts its storytelling depending on the audience (i.e. teachers vs government stakeholders vs donors) to make sure they resonate. He also brings insights on training your team to collect stories, how numbers intersect with narrative, and how The Gaia Project is doing more through cross-collaboration.

• 00:37 Meet Travis Daley from The Gaia Project
• 02:03 The Gaia Project's Mission and Programs
• 03:52 Storytelling By and For Different Audiences
• 09:31 Training Your Team to Collect Stories
• 13:12 The Differences in How Kids and Adults Tell Stories
• 14:33 Using Numbers to Support Your Narrative
• 18:47 Telling Stories in Tight Knit Communities
• 21:31 Doing More Through Cross-Collaboration

Find out more about The Gaia Project

• Website: thegaiaproject.ca
• Facebook: facebook.com/gaiaproject
• Instagram: instagram.com/thegaiaproject_
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thegaiaproject-projetgaia
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@thegaiaproject_

About the Atlantic IMPACT podcast

Atlantic IMPACT is a podcast that helps nonprofits across Atlantic Canada use storytelling to drive fundraising and awareness. Each episode features conversations with people working in community, sharing how story supports connection, impact, and long-term growth. Whether you're part of a nonprofit or simply care about your community, this podcast invites you to listen, reflect, and engage.

 Is your organization ready to tell its story? Take the free Storytelling Readiness Quiz at collaborativecause.ca/stories.

The podcast is hosted by Tanya Wall and Michelle Samson, and is produced by Storied Places Media.